By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru —

About 120 Peruvian special forces successfully raided a camp belonging to group “Shining Path,” rescuing captives held there as slaves. Some of those held claim they have been captives of the group for almost 30 years.

The camp was located in the valley of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers, an area known as Vraem. Over 200 tons of cocaine are reportedly produced there every year – one third of the production for the entire country. Shining Path has been known to work with drug traffickers.

39 people were rescued from the camp – 26 children and 13 adults. Some of the children were born in the camp while others were likely kidnapped from surrounding rural areas, where impoverished parents don’t report abductions out of fear.

At least one of the captives was part of a group of nuns kidnapped by the group 25 years ago.

It is thought that at least 100 people remain captive by Shining Path.

The camp was a “production camp,” where inhabitants are meant to “work and procreate.” Women held there were raped and expected to have as many children as possible, to give birth to more rebels. Both women and children were forced to work in the fields and perform domestic duties.

Peruvian Vice Minister of Defense Ivan Vega reported that those held at the camp were forced to work in fields and on farms growing food for Shining Path members.

Children in the camps are instructed in the group’s Maoist ideology. Once the children reached the age of 13, they were considered “recruits,” and eligible to participate in the group’s armed operations. The rescued children will be placed in the care of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations.

Shining Path was started in the 1960s as a communist revolutionary group. The group in its heyday had about 10,000 members. The group, whose highest goal is to overthrow the Peruvian government, waged an insurgency that left 70,000 people dead or disappeared in its wake.

The fighting between the Peruvian government and Shining Path ended in 2000. Peru opened a museum to honor those killed in the conflict just last year.

Today their numbers are much smaller and the group engages in narcotics trafficking to fund its campaign. Shining Path caused a stir in 2012 when members of the group tried started a petition to form an official political party.

For more information, please see:

Council on Foreign Relations – Shining Path, Tupac Amaru (Peru, leftists) – 27 August 2007

The New York Times – Peru Forced to Confront Deep Scars of Civil War – 26 May 2012

BBC – Peru rescues 39 ‘slave workers’ from Shining Path Farm – 28 July 2015

Latin Post – Peru Rescues 39 People Held Captive by Shining Path Rebels, Some for 30 Years [Pics] – 29 July 2015

Peru this Week – Shining Path still holds 100 hostages in Vraem – 29 July 2015

Reuters – Peru forces raid coca region rebel slave camp, rescue 39 women, children – 29 July 2015

TeleSur – Peru: 39 People Rescued from Camp Run by Shining Path – 29 July 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – 26 Children & 13 Women Abducted by Shining Path Rebels Rescued in Peru – 30 July 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LA PAZ, Bolivia — An attempt to foster dialogue between the Bolivian government and protesters in the city of Potosi failed on Tuesday after protesters demanded that Bolivian President Evo Morales be present for the talks. The government responded that Morales would receive the “final document,” but would not be available for the dialogue.  The protesters are led by the Potosi Civic Committee, or Comcipo.

Bolivian government representatives called a meeting for 2pm on Tuesday July 21 in La Paz to discuss the demands of the protesters. After waiting for 2 hours while Comcipo held an internal meeting, Comcipo president Jhonny Llally presented a letter which reaffirmed the existing pre-conditions (including Morales’ involvement) and additionally demanded that the dialogue be mediated by the Catholic Church, national ombudsman Roalndo Villena, and the Bolivia’s Permanent Human Rights Assembly.

Potosi is protesting for the government to build: a hydroelectric plant, three hospitals, glass and cement factories and an international airport. The city is also looking for steps to preserve the Cerro Rico mines, one of the largest silver deposits in the world.

The protests have been ongoing for at least 17 days, and have paralyzed activity in and around Potosi. Several dozen foreigners are reported to be trapped in the city, including 60 Argentinians. Schools and businesses are for the most part shut down. The city is reportedly close to running out of food, gas, and money. The blockades are preventing food, medicine, and other supplies from being flown in.

Four people have been injured in clashes between protesters and police.

This is not the first time that the people of Potosi has tried to bring attention these issues – similar protests were held back in 2010. These protests also caused a shut down of trade and commerce in the city. Then, 300 foreigners were trapped in the city, and many were evacuated by air by their own governments.  300 foreign citizens were trapped in the city.

No foreign government has yet confirmed that they are working to evacuate their citizens by air, though several have expressed frustration with the inability to access the city by road. Bolivia’s Interior Minister Carlos Romero has said that so far, “there has not been a favorable response from the blockading groups” in reference to the attempts to pull out foreigners.

For more information, please see:

Latin American Herald Tribune – Protests Trap Foreign Tourists in Bolivian City – 16 July 2015

BBC – Protesters cut access to Bolivian city of Potosi – 17 July 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – Dialogue Attempt Between Bolivian Government, Protest Leaders Fails – 22 July 2015

LaPrensa – Dialogue attempt between Bolivian gov’t protests leaders fail – 22 July 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia has agreed to de-escalate attacks against FARC rebels, so long as FARC maintains their unilateral ceasefire. FARC representatives announced on July 8^th that they would initiate a ceasefire starting July 20^th. The Colombian government agreed to de-escalate actions against FARC. Representatives of the two parties announced the agreement in a joint press release from the ongoing peace conference, held in Havana, Cuba.

Talks have been ongoing for about two and a half years, but have recently suffered set-backs caused by a significant escalation of violence between the parties in recent months. The most recent ceasefire (called for by FARC in December 2014) ended after 11 Colombian soldiers were killed in April. FARC officially ended the ceasefire on May 22, and relations between the parties (and the quality of the peace talks) have deteriorated since.

Following the initial April incident, Colombia resumed bombing campaigns against FARC-held positions. FARC responded by targeting Colombian oil pipelines. June was the most violent month in the Colombian/FARC conflict since 2012, with the Conflict Analysis Resource Center (in Bogota) logging 83 armed attacks during the month.

Although FARC has called for bilateral ceasefires in the past, the Colombian government has rejected the notion each time. The lead negotiator for the Colombian government, Humberto de la Calle, has emphasized that this agreement does not constitute a bilateral cease fire.

Speaking following the announcement of the agreement, de la Calle said, “We are not going to just paralyze government forces for a simple illusion that will later prove frustrating.” He specified that Colombian forces will continue to respond to any instances of violence coming from FARC rebels.

Talks have been ongoing between Colombia and FARC in Havana since November 2012. Cuba and Norway are both acting as guarantors to the peace process, and have each called for a truce. Pope Francis has also offered Vatican assistance in the peace process.

Colombian President Santos has pledged that the government and FARC will work together towards a final peace agreement “without delay.” He also announced that he will make a decision in four months on whether to continue the process, or not.

220,000 people have died in the 50 year conflict between the government and the rebels, and millions of civilians have been displaced.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Colombia agrees to reduce attacks against the Farc – 12 July 2015

International Business Times – Colombia and FARC Agree on De-Escalation Plan, Removing Roadblock to Historic Peace Deal – 12 July 2015

REUTERS – Colombia says to de-escalate war if rebels uphold ceasefire – 12 July 2015

TeleSur – FARC and Colombian Government Agree to Ease Hostilities – 12 July 2015

ABC News – Pope Offers Vatican Assistance to Colombia Peace Process – 13 July 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, Brazil — The Congress of Brazil has voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that would lower the age of criminal responsibility in the country to age 16. The vote came just one day after Congress had voted down an earlier version of the amendment.

323 out of 480 legislators voted in favor of the amendment, taking a step towards changing the Brazilian constitution.

The amendment would change the Statute of Children and Adolescents of 1990, which details that children under the age of 18 cannot be held legally responsible for crimes committed. Under the old law, children found guilty of crimes that require a greater sentence than a warning or reparations are sent to detention centers for no longer than 3 years.

The change lowers the age of criminal responsibility to 16 for those children found guilty of “heinous crimes,” which includes rape, murder, and robbery followed by rape or murder.

The original version of the amendment included drug trafficking, aggravated robbery and terrorism as crimes with a lower responsibility age. The removal of these provisions allowed amendment to pass House.

The proposed change came about after a spike in high profile violent crimes perpetrated by under-18s.

The vote was highly controversial in Brazil, drawing criticism from President Dilma Rousseff and organizations such as Human Rights Watch. President Rousseff commented back in April: “We cannot allow the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility to 16 years old to 18 years old. The place for children is at school.”

Opponents have also criticized the speaker of the lower house, Edward Cunha, for pushing through a second vote on the amendment less than 24 hours after it was originally rejected.

Student groups across the country have also protested against the move.

Brazil has the fourth largest prison system in the world, and the prison population has increased by 33% since 2008. Overcrowding is a common issue in many of Brazil’s prisons, and the amendment’s critics say that the move will put children at risk in dangerous prisons. The amendment’s supporters insist that if the law passes, special detention centers for 16-18 year olds will be opened.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Brazil Congress in U-Turn on criminal age vote – 2 July 2015

The Guardian – Brazil’s congress reduces age of criminal responsibility to 16 – 2 July 2015

Prensa Latina News Agency – New Brazilian Dispute: Reduction of Age of Criminal Responsibility – 2 July 2015

TeleSur – Brazil Congress Votes to Lower Age of Criminal Responsibility – 2 July 2015

inNews – Brazil: Reduction in Age of Criminal Responsibility Jumps First Hurdle – 6 July 2015